What is GS1? How is it related to EDI in Hong Kong?
The international GS1 Standards provide a common business communication system between companies to enhance the efficient movement of goods, as well as to facilitate the accompanying flow of information. The GS1 Standards are widely adopted in over countries worldwide. The GS1 Hong Kong is the sole GS1 authority for Hong Kong, and runs the GS1 number bank which can be used by any member company based in the territories – for unique identification of products, materials, processes, services and locations to facilitate inter-company trade. EZ*TRADE uses the GS1 EANCOM standard, a detailed implementation guideline developed by GS1 from the UN / EDIFACT message standard. EDIFACT was developed by the United Nations and stands for Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Trade and is the preferred EDI standard of Hong Kong. Use of standard GS1 numbers means trading partners do not have to maintain complex cross-references of their trading partner’s internal codes and are
